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The Intelligence and Security Agencies

The United Kingdom has three intelligence and security services collectively known as the Agencies. These are:

• the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) often called MI6;
• Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and
• the Security Service, often called MI5.

The UK's intelligence machinery also includes:

• the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) - part of the Ministry of Defence (MoD)
• the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC); and
• the central intelligence machinery based in the Cabinet Office.